The event, a key date in the motoring industry calendar, features some of this year’s most hotly anticipated new cars, from hot hatchbacks to class-leading SUVs.
Attendees have also been treated to the launch of Mercedes-AMG’s Project One hypercar, which has the same engine as Lewis Hamilton’s F1 car.
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The show runs until 24 September. If you don’t get the chance to visit in person, here are the 11 best cars making their debuts in Germany.
1. Bentley Continental GT
The unveiling of a new, sportier version of the Bentley Continental GT is a highlight of this year’s show.
The grand tourer, which has been around for well over a decade, has undergone a radical design overhaul. The new car takes its inspiration from the company’s sporty EXP 10 Speed 6 Concept, which featured at the Geneva Motor Show in 2015.
According to Car magazine, Bentley has revamped the vehicle’s cabin by installing an “all-new 12.3in touchscreen that revolves from behind a panel of wood veneer”. The new car has digital dials on the dashboard and the same steering wheel design as the carmaker’s Bentayga SUV.
Click here to read more about the new Continental GT.
2. BMW M5
Fans had the chance to get close to BMW’s new M5 super saloon in Frankfurt.
The 5 Series-based performance car features a reworked version of BMW’s 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol engine, says Evo, which produces 592bhp and 553lb-ft of torque. It’s the first M-branded car to come with an all-wheel drive system, which helps the M5 go from 0-62mph in just 3.4 seconds.
The car is due to go on sale next year, says the magazine, with prices starting at £89,640. To find out more about the new M5, click here.
3. BMW X7 concept
BMW has significantly increased its SUV stable over the past couple of years. In Frankfurt, a concept for a range-topping X7 was added to the line-up.
The new model debuts a radical new look for a BMW SUV, with an angular design similar to the company’s recent 8 Series and Z4 concepts, rather than the usual curvy lines. The X7 Concept also comes with “a smattering of eDrive badges”, says Car magazine, suggesting it will come with hybrid engine options.
4. Ferrari Portofino
Ferrari surprised the motoring world in the run-up to the motor show when it revealed the replacement for its California T supercar – the Portofino.
The drop-top supercar has undergone a significant redesign that incorporates styling cues from the marque’s 812 Superfast grand tourer and the GTC4 Lusso shooting brake. The new model is powered by the 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8 motor featured in the Ferrari 488 supercar, says Auto Express, and boasts a power output of 592bhp.
Click here to read more about the Ferrari Portofino.
5. Ford Mustang
Ford unveiled an updated version of its iconic Mustang that has sharper styling and a more powerful V8 engine.
But what really makes this revamped Mustang stand out is its improved cabin quality and interior tech. Along with significantly more premium materials in the cabin than in the previous model, Ford has fitted the sports car with a digital dashboard derived from its GT hypercar.
6. Honda Urban EV Concept
Hondar’s retro-looking Urban EV Concept charmed fans in Frankfurt - and it’s due to reach production in 2019.
Little is know about the performance of the compact city car, reports The Verge, but Honda says the vehicle is able to tailor the driving experience to the owner’s needs by reading their emotions. The doors are also rear-hinged, making it easier to enter the car in tight parking spaces.
7. Hyundai i30 N
Hyundai is joining the highly competitive hot hatchback market with its racing-inspired i30 N, which made its public debut at the show.
The N in the car’s name stands for Nurburgring, a 12.9-mile racing circuit often used by manufacturers to develop their new performance vehicles. Under the bonnet sits a 247bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine, says Top Gear, although there’s an optional “Performance Package” that ups its output to 271bhp. The package also includes grippier tyres and features a louder sports exhaust system.
The i30 N is due to launch next year, but prices have yet to be announced.
8. Lamborghini Aventador S Roadster
Lamborghini revealed the new drop-top version of its Aventator S supercar.
The Aventador S Roadster is almost identical to the hard-top version, but weighs an extra 50kg, according to Auto Express. That may be because convertible variants of cars often need extra strengthening components to compensate for the absence of a roof. It also retains the hard-top version’s 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12 engine, which goes from 0-62mph in only three seconds.
The new model will cost £251,462 in the UK, says the magazine, with early examples reaching buyers in February.
9. Mercedes-AMG Project One
(Image credit: The Week)
Mercedes-AMG created one of the most dominant Formula 1 engines of all time - and that engine has been put into a limited-edition hypercar called Project One.
Unveiled by Lewis Hamilton, the hypercar is powered by the same 1.6-litre turbocharged V6 hybrid that powers the three-time world champion’s F1 car, Evo reports. The Project One delivers more than 1,000bhp and boasts a 11,000rpm redline - just 2,000rpm shy of the company’s F1 car at full power.
Only 275 units will be made, the magazine says, and will be priced at a cool €2.3m (£2m) each.
10. Porsche Cayenne
Porsche’s new third-generation Cayenne made its first public appearance in Frankfurt.
Although the new car bears a striking resemblance to its predecessor, says Autocar, it has been built on an all-new platform from parent company Volkswagen - lowering the weight by about 70kg. It also gets a sleeker design, with a body-wide tail light cluster similar to that on the company’s Panamera saloon, as well as a sloping roofline at the rear end.
A new version of the critically acclaimed Megane RS hot hatchback was unveiled by Renault F1 driver Nico Hulkenberg.
It gets much of its looks from the regular Megane hatchback, but the wider wheel arches and functioning rear diffuser are unique to the RS. The new hot hatch also gets four-wheel steering, which improves cornering at higher speeds.
Orders for the Megane RS open next spring, says Autocar, with prices expected to start at around £30,000.
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